"Somehow, I think you've got something on your mind," Glory said. "I didn't spend a whole summer with you and not learn a thing or two, you know."

Léan arched an eyebrow. "Huh. I do have something on my mind, but it is not something I would like to discuss," he replied. There was a pink tint to his cheeks. He looked almost like a child who'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Oh?" Glory teased, sitting up. She saw the faint blush on his face and debated whether or not to tease him more. "Are you sure? I hear talking about things helps..."

"It won't help with this," Léan assured her, far too relaxed to sit up. "I know it won't." He could see the beginnings of teasing forming on her, and he wasn't sure if he liked it or not.

"Now I'm curious," Glory replied. She left it at that, though. If he really didn't want to talk about it, she wouldn't push the issue.

Léan sighed in relief, shifting a bit. He still looked bothered by something, but there was absolutely no way he was going to reveal it, most likely. It seemed like it was embarrassing, for he still had that pink tint to his cheeks.

Glory noticed he was still pink, but didn't say anything. Even though it was just the two of them, she doubted he wanted to be embarassed. She knew she wouldn't want to be embarassed if she were in his place. Though she was still curious about what he was thinking about...

Léan eventually cooled down and instead settled for poking at a bluish-colored shell next to him. It seemed that whatever he was thinking about had been pushed to the back of his mind.

After a few moments, Glory leaned over and hugged him from the side.

"You look like you need a hug," she said. She didn't really expect him to return the hug, but there was a tiny hope that he would, in the back of her mind.

Léan froze, and then stayed there, limply, for a moment before awkwardly raising his arms up and half-hugging her. It was almost like he'd never hugged anyone in his life.

Glory was surprised that he actually returned the hug. That had never happened before, and she'd been springing hugs on him all summer. It felt surprisingly good to have him hug her back... She hadn't realized how much she wanted him to.

"I'm not going to bite, you know," she teased softly. "You don't need to hesitate so much. It's just a hug."

"I wouldn't put it past you," Léan teased back, sounding nervous. He didn't move his arms too much, hoping he was doing this right. He hadn't hugged anyone in a long time.

"Oh hush, you," she teased back. Absently, she snuggled into his arms. She enjoyed having him hold her. Somehow, she felt safe. As soon as she realized that the thought had crossed her mind, she blushed a little. No need to have bad thoughts...

"I will not hush," Léan retorted, the pink tint on his face deepening when she snuggled into his grip. He made sure not to move too much.

"It's probably a good thing your brother isn't here right now," Glory teased after a moment. "I can just imagine what he would say if he saw us like this."

"He wouldn't say it," Léan muttered, going a little pinker. "He would squeal, and then scream it..." He seemed to relax more and more as time went by.

"And then you'd probably end up smacking him, like usual," Glory agreed. "Pretty much a typical reaction."

"Mm. Probably..." Léan fell silent, now seeming perfectly fine with the hug. He didn't try to jerk away or anything.

After a few more moments, Glory let go, not wanting to make him uncomfortable.

"You're really comfortable," she teased. "I should hug you more often."

Léan cleared his throat, going pink once more. "...Thank you?" He didn't seem to be used to being this casual, with anyone.

Glory rolled her eyes.

"Just take the compliment and move along," she teased.

"It is rare for compliments to come my way," Léan retorted, half-teasingly. "Well...non-sarcastic ones, anyway."

"I'm told I'm good at sarcasm, if you want me to try," Glory teased back. "I just figure sincere compliments are better for people you like."

"True, true..." Léan let his eyes wander to the shark, which was now just swimming around aimlessly. "Our friend doesn't seem to like shallow water."

"That's not surprising," Glory replied. "Unlike you all, humans are unintelligent design at its finest, and are therefore not engineered to be neutrally buoyant. It probably can't maneuver in shallow water, kind of like I can't in open water."